This approach is significant because it proves how grassroots efforts gain momentum and affect change when passion is followed by commitment. Liz Fusco said the group's philosophy rested on the pillars of "education and the emphasis on black radicalism" (Sturkey). Education was essential to overcoming inequality and one result from this mindset was the Freedom School, which sought to educate African-Americans about their history and "emphasis on traditions of black Resistance"(Sturkey). The school's curriculum "emphasized the importance of historical knowledge in the formation of social identity. But they could also serve as a source of motivation for social activism" (Sturkey). The school is a direct result of what happens when people band together at a grassroots level and fight to make change. The grassroots effort spread with Freedom Rides, the Mississippi Summer Project and the Freedom Ballot. The Freedom Ballot in 1963 is significant because it was an election the African-Americans held among themselves to demonstrate their willingness to be involved in political events. The chasm between races was wide and almost impenetrable on many fronts. However, as it is in many instances today with racial and inequality issues, some people can reach across the divide and make a difference. The SNCC was different in that its initial approach to equality was through nonviolent means. Miller also takes time to discuss whites in the SNCC movement because for many other established organizations fighting for civil rights, Mississippi was not a priority and, therefore, whites were not interested. With many whites not interested, the government was also not interested, which made for a constant state of frustration for the African-Americans fighting for equality. In the beginning, the presence of whites was discouraged by Bob Moses but the "killing of one local civil rights leader after another, with no action by the federal government...

This is not to say that the togetherness was strong. In fact, Miller writes that it was "fragile" (Miller) but some white volunteers gained respect by working side by side with African-Americans. The efforts are worth remembering because tolerance works best when it everyone practices it.
The SNCC was immensely successful in the American Civil Rights Movement. As Miller writes, the organization, "broke the walls of legal segregation" (Miller). However, it proves to be even more important in the area of hope and inspiration because it demonstrates how groups and organizations can mobilize and make a difference from the ground up. Regardless of the issue, America remains one of the few countries where liberty includes raising voices. From the Tea Party movement to the Occupy Wall Street movement, diversity is what America is all about and the SNCC paved the way for people working peacefully to get their voices heard. It is possible and no one would expect to occur anywhere if it did not occur in America. Freedom begins with a yearning in the human soul and it is a yearning that cannot be squelched. The SNCC was born from discrimination but it endured long enough to breathe new life into a generation that prejudice wore down.

Works Cited

Cobb, Charles. "Black in Different Colors." Massachusetts Review. University of Massachusetts.

Danver, Laurence. Revolts, Protests, Demonstrations, and Rebellions in American History.

ABC-CLIO, LLC. Santa Barbara. 2011. Print.

Grant, Joane, ed. Black Protest. New York: Ballentine Books. 1968. Print.

Miller, Mike. "Mississippi musings: Freedom Summer revisited." Social Policy 25.1 (1994): 46-60. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 4 Oct. 2011.

Sturkey, Willaim. "I Want to Become a Part of History: Freedom Summer, Freedom Schools and The Freedom News."…